Voting begins for May 5 primary

Tuesday

Mar 31, 2009 at 12:01 AMMar 31, 2009 at 2:13 AM

Absentee voting begins Tuesday for the May 5 primary, in which fewer than 10 percent of Franklin County voters are expected to cast a ballot.

The Franklin County Board of Elections expects about 76,000 to vote in person or by mail. A Metro Parks levy is the only countywide issue on the ballot, which also has several school levies and primary races for city offices in Hilliard and Reynoldsburg.

The deadline to register for the primary is Monday. Voters who've moved or changed their names should update their registration to avoid having to cast a provisional ballot.

The board's office, at 280 E. Broad St., will be open for early voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays through May 4. It also will stay open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 2.

Voters may request an absentee ballot by mail, but the board must receive those requests before noon on May 2. Voted ballots must be returned by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, when polls close.

The elections board met briefly yesterday for routine housekeeping before voting begins, although it is still short a fourth member. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is accepting applications to replace fellow Democrat William Anthony Jr., who announced his resignation in late February.

His party's choice for the seat, Zach Manifold, said yesterday that he has applied for the position.

Appeals from two Columbus school-board members who want to be included on the November ballot will be heard after the elections board "has a full complement," Board President Douglas J. Preisse said.